See the Sound: Using Waveforms in DaVinci Resolve 

Editing audio can be confusing due to the complexity of managing multiple audio and video layers, but DaVinci Resolve has a handy tool that helps you see what’s going on with your sound — waveforms! Those lines might seem strange at first, but they’re actually your ultimate editing shortcut for working with audio faster and easier.

First things first, let us learn what waveforms actually are and answer the question of how to see audio levels in DaVinci Resolve. 

What Are Waveforms?

Those wavy lines you see in audio editing programs, show you how loud and quiet things get over time. The higher they jump, the louder the sound, while the flatter lines mean quieter parts. Waveforms basically act like a gauge for editors, letting them see the ups and downs of your audio. This helps them make sure everything sounds great, from catching soft whispers to making sure the volume is consistent.

Waveforms provide an immediate method for understanding audio without having to listen to it over and over again, a way of how to see audio levels in DaVinci Resolve. They enable editors to:

• Quickly identify areas with significant changes in the audio.
• Cut, trim, and splice pieces of audio exactly in the right place.
• See to it that music syncs with other elements like video.

Common Uses

Waveforms have several practical applications in audio editing, including:

• Identifying Beats: Music editors use waveforms to locate beats and rhythms, making it easier to align audio tracks or add effects in sync with the music.
• Syncing Audio with Video: In video editing, waveforms help ensure that audio and video tracks are perfectly synchronized. By matching the visual peaks and troughs with specific video events, editors can achieve precise timing.
• Fixing Audio Issues: They help editors spot problems in the sound, like parts that are way too loud (makes a scratchy noise) or a constant hum in the background. With these clues, editors can fix those issues and make your audio sound awesome!

Knowing how to see audio levels in DaVinci Resolve makes editing them much easier They can quickly see what needs tweaking and make the best choices to turn your audio into a polished masterpiece!

How to Enable and Disable Waveforms in Davinci Resolve

You can’t see audio waveform in DaVinci Resolve? Click that button on the top left side of the timeline to see the Timeline View Options. Look for the option that says “Audio Waveforms”  and make sure that there is a tick next to it. If there isn’t, smash that left mouse button

There are some extra options there, such as settings for the height for audio and video tracks. Don’t be afraid to play with them to find the most comfortable setup. 

How To Manage Audio Waveforms in DaVinci Resolve

In the same dialogue box, once you have already enabled waveforms in DaVinci Resolve, you have several options to manage and customize how they are displayed. These options help improve the readability and usability of the waveforms, making your editing process more efficient. Here’s how to manage the waveforms:

Non-Rectify Waveforms in DaVinci Resolve

A non-rectify waveform shows the audio signal exactly as it was recorded: positive peaks above the zero line and negative peaks below it. In other words, you see the full bipolar waveform rather than a “rectified” version that flips everything upward or displays only the absolute-value envelope. This full view makes it easier to spot true peak levels, polarity problems, and subtle clipping on either half of the cycle.

Full Waveforms in DaVinci Resolve

A full waveform is also an answer to the question of “how to see audio levels in DaVinci Resolve”. It’s the complete visual representation of an audio signal, showing every positive and negative excursion of the sound wave over time; nothing is cropped, averaged, or simplified. 

Practically, that lets you inspect transients, clipping, low-level noise, and phase anomalies with sample-accurate precision instead of relying on a coarse thumbnail view.

Waveform Border

The last option is the “Waveform Border.” This setting draws a darker border around the waveform, adding better contrast and making it easier to see the details of the waveform. This can be helpful in distinguishing the waveform from the background and other elements in the timeline.

Zooming In and Out

DaVinci Resolve lets you zoom in real close on your timeline using just two fingers. Just click Shift and scroll with the mouse wheel while hovering over the track you want to get a closer look at. If you want to zoom the tracks horizontally, holding the Alt (or opt) key while scrolling will help you here.

This is perfect for making precise cuts in your audio track. Just zoom way out to take a step back and see your entire audio track at once. This will give you a better sense of how everything fits together.